Ardal
Jack confers with Kadeem over the itinerary, while the kids bolt around like wild animals - all but Erbao, who soon tires out and plops down onto the curb in the shade.
I take a seat next to him and hold out my open bag of popcorn, but he shakes his head.
“Mom?”
I fling a piece of popcorn into my mouth. “Hmm.”
“I heard you talking to Kadeem about me.”
I freeze, mouth half-open to gobble another bit of snack. “You did,” I ask, feeling the anxiety rising inside of me.
“That’s why we’re leaving? Because of me?”
I fold up my bag. “There are different reasons… An adventure… Maybe turning a page for all of us.”
“Mom,” he presses.
I wrap my arm around his frail frame. He is a mere shadow of the boy I once knew, but his thin appearance belies t
